Australia continues to cement its status as a global production powerhouse, with Netflix’s upcoming thriller Apex choosing New South Wales as its primary filming location. The high-stakes thriller, starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana, is expected to generate over 460 local jobs and pump $56.5 million into the state’s economy.

With filming set to take place in Sydney and Western Sydney, Apex—directed by Baltasar Kormákur (Everest, 2 Guns)—follows a grieving woman who retreats into the wilderness, only to become entangled in a deadly game of survival against a serial killer. Production kicks off today, marking another major international feature choosing Australia over competing global markets.

The film is being produced by Theron’s Secret Menu, along with RVK Productions, Ian Bryce Productions, and Chernin Entertainment. With backing from Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund, Apex stands as a testament to the region’s ability to attract high-profile projects through a combination of competitive incentives, top-tier studio facilities, and world-class crews.

Director Baltasar Kormákur praised Australia’s landscape and production infrastructure, stating:

“For a film like Apex—where the elements and the terrain are characters just as vital as the movie stars—no other country in the world could match Australia as our primary location. The landscape, studio facilities, and talented crews in New South Wales have been a boon to this production.”

The Made in NSW Fund, launched in 2020, has been instrumental in attracting major international and local productions to the region. With Australia’s Federal Location Offset further sweetening the deal, Netflix’s decision to shoot Apex in NSW underscores the country’s rising influence as a premier global production hub.

As streaming giants and studios continue to seek out cost-effective, high-production-value locations, Australia’s screen industry is proving that it can compete—and win—on the world stage.